This time Theo and Madeline’s reaction is mixed. His eyes widen in surprise while hers narrow into slits and I feel like I’m about to get a lecture.
“Charlotte doesn’t have any family, Oliver. How can you live with her and not know that?” Madeline says.
Guilt and annoyance tangle in my gut. Guilt, because she’s right, I probably should know that. At the same time, I feel irritated that I should be expected to know her story considering the woman’s low opinion of me.
“Oh, that’s such a shame. Where’s her family?” Madeline’s grandmother asks as she puts pumpkin pie on the table.
“Her mother died when she was a little girl and her grandmother died a couple years ago.”
“And she’s alone in the world?” her grandmother asks again.
“She had a boyfriend for a while but he left several months back. And so, as far as I know, she’s alone,” Madeline says.
The word “alone” enters my brain, filters through and sinks like a lead weight in my gut. Maybe she was hard on me, but Madeline was right; no one should be alone on Thanksgiving.
I rise from my chair. “Thank you very much for the dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Fox. It was delicious. I appreciate your taking in one of Theo’s strays.”
“Are you leaving?” Madeline's grandmother asks.
“Yes, I need to head back to New York tonight.”
Madeline’s grandmother gets a knowing look on her face. “I guess that Charlotte won’t be alone tonight after all.”
She packs me turkey, stuffing and potatoes, and some pumpkin pie to take with me on my trip back to New York.
I just reach my car and open the door when Theo comes up behind me.
“What are you doing, Oliver? I mean, what are your intentions?” he asks.
I turn to face him. “You know I love you, Theo, and I appreciate everything that you’ve done for me, but I don’t need a parent questioning every little move I make.”
“Charlotte is a nice person and I don’t want to see her get hurt.”
I gape at Oliver. “Ten minutes ago you were implying that I was hurting her by not bringing her to Thanksgiving, and now I’m bringing Thanksgiving to her, and you’re implying that I’m going to hurt her. Which is it, Theo?”
“I guess it’s both.”
“You know, you’ve gotten judgmental now that you’re settling down. Or maybe you’ve always had such a low opinion of me.” I think that’s what hurts the most. That he thinks I’m such an asshole, I would hurt her. Which is not to say I don’t sometimes do asshole things, but I’m an asshole in general.
“I’m not accusing you of anything, and I think the world of you, Oliver, you know that. But this situation could easily go bad. What if this thing between you two evolves, and then that tape comes out? I think you have enough on your plate just trying to manage that and start your new job, to worry about a relationship.”
“I’m not asking her to marry me, Theo. I’m bringing her dinner and spending time with her as a friend. Because that’s what we are, friends.”
Theo’s eyes narrow as he studies me and I hope to hell he doesn’t see that I once slept with her, or that I kissed her, or that even now there is a part of me that still wants her. To make sure he doesn’t, I glare back at him.
Remembering that Theo has just embarked on a new path in his life, I break the tension by putting my arm on his shoulder and smiling. “You let me worry about my bullshit, Theo. You go back inside and enjoy Thanksgiving with your real fiancée, and your new family.” I open my car door and I slide into the front seat.
“You’re my family too, Oliver. I just want you to be happy.”
“If you want me to be happy, stop harping on me like a mother.” I pull the car door shut and start the engine.
The trip back to New York seems to take longer than when I drove out to Woodstock, especially when I hit traffic in the city. But finally, I make it to the condo garage and park the car. I grab the canvas shopping bag that Mrs. Fox put all the food in, and bring it with me to the elevator and ride up to Charlotte’s floor.
As I near the door, I take out my key and feel a flutter of nerves. Being nervous around a woman is a new thing for me. I attribute it to the fact that she and I have been estranged for the last few days.
But I need to apologize to her and bridge the gap because while I’ve been offered a job, I’m not out of the woods yet. If things went sour with us now, I would again look unsettled, and Dr. Kramer could just as easily let me go again.
I unlock the door and enter the condo. It’s dark, although there’s a flicker coming from the living area suggesting the TV is on. I check my watch, and it’s not too late, but maybe she is sleeping on the couch.
As I enter the living area, I see her sitting on the couch, her legs tucked under a blanket. She’s got a glass of wine and is watching a black-and-white movie on the TV.
Her head turns to me. “Oliver.” Her expression is shock.
I hold up the bag that Mrs. Fox gave me. “I brought Thanksgiving.” I walk over to the dining table just outside the kitchen and set the food on it.
Then I move to stand behind the couch, squatting down and resting my arms on the cushions. I look at her over the back of the couch. “I’m sorry, I was an asshole.”
She sniffs, like maybe she’s trying not to cry, which makes me feel like a bigger jerk.
But then she says, “I think that’s my line.”